According to local analysts, the tougher new law was much delayed due to intensive lobbying from tobacco companies, and from restaurant and bar owners, who feared their businesses would be hurt by the ban.

Some one in four adults in Romania smoke, over 4.4 million people, while at least double the number of people are subjected to second-hand smoke at home and at work, local studies show.

Under the new law, individuals who do not respect the rules will be fined 100 to 500 lei ($24 to $120), while the establishments that break the law will be fined 5,000 to 10,000 lei as well as risk having their operating licenses suspended.